For release: 2 PM EST, December 26, 2001

 

PAUL TAGLIABUE IS NAMED MOST POWERFUL IN SPORTS
IN ANNUAL SPORTING NEWS RANKING;
PRESIDENT BUSH IS RANKED #9, FIRST US PRESIDENT TO BE INCLUDED

 

St. Louis, December 26, 2001 – For the first time since The Sporting News began compiling its annual “Most Powerful in Sports” list in 1990, NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue tops the chart.

The “TSN 100, the Most Powerful People in Sports,” always widely anticipated at year’s end, appears in the December 31 issue of The Sporting News, on sale today, and also being announced on Sporting News Radio and posted on the Website www.sportingnews.com.

John Rawlings, Senior Vice President and Editorial Director, said, "Paul Tagliabue set the agenda for all sports to follow in the wake of the national tragedy on Sept. 11. He also is responsible for setting a course that will result in at least 20 years of labor peace between football owners and players, which is unprecedented in the current sports environment. Add those to his other accomplishments -- not the least of which was fending off another frivolous lawsuit by Al Davis -- and he stands head and shoulders above everyone for exercising power."

Of interest this year, in which the usual assemblage of media moguls, advertising giants, powerful agents, influential athletes, club owners, union bosses and league officials congregate, is the presence of President George W. Bush at #9, the first time that the nation’s chief executive has made the list.  President Bush, a former owner of the Texas Rangers, has been leading the nation through the difficult times since events of September 11, and has provided leadership not only for the general population, but for the nation’s sports franchises and athletes as well.

The security chiefs of the four major sports leagues were grouped as the #25 listing.

The list, compiled by editors of The Sporting News, has previously found Commissioner Tagliabue ranked 3-5-14-6-2-14-16-10-2-4-2 since 1990.

“Tagliabue, 61, presides over a billion-dollar league marked by popularity, prosperity and peace,” writes Dennis Dillon, who prepared the story for this week’s edition. 

Rounding out the top ten are 2) George Steinbrenner, 3) News Corp.’s Rupert Murdoch, 4) IMG’s Mark McCormack, 5) NASCAR’s Bill France Jr., 6) NBA Commissioner David Stern, 7) August Busch IV & Anthony Ponturo of Anheuser-Busch Inc., 8) Sean McManus, President of CBS Sports,  9) President Bush and 10) NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman.

Tiger Woods, at #12, is the highest ranking athlete on the list, which also includes Michael Jordan (33), Mario Lemieux (53), Jeff Gordon (68), Barry Bonds (71), Venus Williams (77), Shaquille O’Neal (84), and Ichiro Suzuki (88). 

With #100 usually reserved for a light-hearted selection, the honor this year went to actor Billy Crystal, who was nominated for an Emmy for co-producing (with HBO’s Ross Greenburg, #72), “61*” the story of the Maris/Mantle home run race of 1961.

The complete list:

1.Paul Tagliabue, Commissioner, National Football League.

2. George Steinbrenner, Principal Owner, NY Yankees; Partner, New Jersey Devils, New Jersey Nets.
3. Rupert Murdoch, Chairman, News Corp.
4. Mark McCormack, Founder and CEO, IMG, TWI.
5. Bill France Jr., Chairman, board of directors, NASCAR; Chairman, ISC.
6. David Stern, Commissioner, NBA.
7. August Busch IV, Group V.P., marketing and wholesale operations, Anheuser-Busch, Inc.; Anthony             Ponturo, V.P., global media and sports marketing, Anheuser-Busch, Inc.   
8. Sean McManus, President, CBS Sports.
9. George W. Bush, President, United States of America.
10. Gary Bettman, Commissioner, NHL.
11. George Bodenheimer, President, ESPN.
12. Tiger Woods, Golfer.
13. Steve Case, Chairman, AOL Time Warner.
14. Bud Selig, Commissioner, MLB; Donald Fehr, Executive director, MLBPA.
15. Philip Knight, Chairman, CEO, Nike.
16. Dick Ebersol, Chairman, NBC Sports and NBC Olympics.
17. David D'Alessandro, CEO, John Hancock.
18. Robert D. Kain, President and COO, IMG Americas.
19. Charles Dolan, Chairman, Cablevision; James Dolan, CEO, Cablevision, and Chairman, MSG.
20. Mitt Romney, President, CEO, Salt Lake Organizing Committee.
21. Tim Finchem, Commissioner, PGA Tour.
22. Chase Carey, Executive director, co-COO, News Corp.
23. Ted Leonsis, President, AOL Interactive Properties Group; Owner, Washington Capitals; Minority owner, Washington Wizards, MCI Center.
24. Charles Fruit, V.P., director of media and marketing assets, Coca-Cola.
25. Milt Ahlerich, V.P., NFL Security; Kevin Hallinan, Senior V.P., security and facilities, MLB; Horace Balmer, Senior V.P., security, NBA; Dennis Cunningham, V.P., security, NHL.
26. John A. Walsh, Senior V.P., Executive editor, ESPN; John Skipper, Senior V.P., General manager, ESPN.com and ESPN, The Magazine.
27. Philip Anschutz, Owner, Los Angeles Kings, Los Angeles Galaxy, Chicago Fire, Colorado Rapids, New York-New Jersey MetroStars, Staples Center; Part-owner, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Sparks.
28. Tom Condon, President, IMG football.
29. John G. Middlebrook, General manager, vehicle brand marketing and corporate advertising, General Motors Corp.
30. Roy Kramer, Commissioner, Southeastern Conference.
31. David Hill, Chairman, CEO, Fox Sports Television Group.
32. Frank Craighill, Worldwide chairman, Octagon.
33. Michael Jordan, Forward, Washington Wizards.
34. Scott Boras, Sports attorney.
35. Charles Ergen, CEO, Echostar Communications.
36. Sonny Vaccaro, Consultant to the president, adidas America.
37. Michael Eisner, Chairman, CEO, Disney.
38. Russ Granik, Deputy commissioner, NBA.
39. Paul Beeston, COO, MLB.
40. Arn Tellem, President, CEO, SFX basketball group; Executive V.P., SFX baseball group.
41. Jamie Kellner, Chairman, CEO, TBS.
42. Mark Cuban, Owner, Dallas Mavericks; Chairman, President, HDNet.
43. Robert Kraft, Chairman, Owner, New England Patriots.
44. Roger Goodell, COO, NFL.
45. Mike Helton, President, NASCAR.
46. Gene Upshaw, Executive director, NFLPA.
47. Jacques Rogge, President, International Olympic Committee.
48. Jerry Colangelo, Managing general partner, AZ Diamondbacks; Chairman and CEO, Phoenix Suns.
49. Jim Delany, Commissioner, Big Ten Conference.
50. Eddy Hartenstein, President, DirecTV.
51. Phil de Picciotto, President, athlete representation, Octagon.
52. Jim Hunter, V.P., corporate communications, NASCAR.
53. Mario Lemieux, Chairman, CEO, President, Forward, Pittsburgh Penguins.
54. David Dunn, CEO, President, Athletes First.
55. Dan Rooney, Owner, President, Pittsburgh Steelers.
56. Mike Krzyzewski, Basketball coach, Duke University.
57. Sandy Alderson, Executive V.P., MLB.
58. David Falk, Founder, SFX Sports.
59. William Daly, Executive V.P., Chief legal officer, NHL.
60. Randy Hendricks, CEO, President, SFX baseball group; Alan Hendricks, Senior V.P., SFX baseball group.
61. Stephen Unger, Managing partner, Heidrick and Struggles International.
62. Cedric Dempsey, President, NCAA.
63. Jeffrey Moorad, Managing director, Assante Sports Management.
64. Barry Frank, Vice Chairman, TWI.
65. Mark Lazarus, President, Turner Sports; President, Turner Entertainment Sales.
66. George Pyne, V.P., NASCAR.
67. Wayne Gretzky, Managing partner, Phoenix Coyotes.
68. Jeff Gordon, Driver.
69. Bob Goodenow, Executive director, NHLPA.
70. Harold Henderson, Executive V.P., labor  relations; Chair, Management Council, NFL.
71. Barry Bonds, Left fielder.
72. Ross Greenburg, President, HBO Sports.
73. Tracy Dolgin, President, Fox Sports Net.
74. Timothy Brosnan, Executive V.P., MLB.
75. Leigh Steinberg, CEO, Assante Sports Management Group.
76. The Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh and William C. Friday, Co-chairs, Knight Foundation Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics.
77. Venus Williams, Tennis player.
78. Ronnie Lott and Harris Barton, Co-founders, Champion Ventures.
79. Joe Buck, Sportscaster, Fox Sports.
80. Bret Bearup, President, Pro Trust.
81. Sandra Baldwin, Chair, United States Olympic Committee.
82. Scott Nova, Executive director, Worker Rights Consortium.
83. Andy van Hellemond, Director of officiating, NHL.
84. Shaquille O'Neal, Center, Los Angeles Lakers.
85. Bob Knight, Basketball coach, Texas Tech University.
86. Timothy Lieweke, President, CEO, Anschutz Entertainment Group
87. William Hunter, Executive director, NBPA.
88. Ichiro Suzuki, Right fielder, Seattle Mariners.
89. Jim Rome, Talk-show host.
90. Adam Silver, President, COO, NBA Entertainment.
91. Bob Costas, Sportscaster, NBC.
92. Donna Lopiano, Executive director, Women's Sports Foundation.
93. Michael Levy, Founder, CEO, CBS Sportsline.com
94. Lon Babby, Partner, Williams & Connolly, LLP.
95. Teresa Earnhardt, Chair, DEI.
96. Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit, and Chris Fowler, Sportscasters, ESPN.
97. Leo Hindery, CEO, YES Network.
98. Stan Kasten, President, Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Hawks; President, Governor, Atlanta Thrashers.
99. Ed Goren, President, Executive producer, Fox Sports.
100. Billy Crystal, Producer, 61* .

The Sporting News, a Wired World Company, is a leading U.S. sports media company reaching 18 million people weekly. TSN’s content is available through many sources, including a weekly magazine, books, a radio network and stations, Web site, wireless devices and iTV.

The Sporting News is the nation’s oldest sports publication, having debuted in 1886. Visit TSN online at www.sportingnews.com.

Contact: Marty Appel Public Relations (914) 235-4017